Gunung Kinabalu or Mount Kinabalu is the most =
famous=20
national park of Sabah. It is over 4,100 m high. The =
mountain=20
can be climbed relatively easily provided one follows =
the=20
right trail.

Mt. Kinabalu is the pride and soul of =
Sabah.

Bursting through the famed =
"Spine of=20
Sabah", the Crocker Range that is, it soars aloft=20
spectacularly into the Borneo sky. Its awesome height =
prompted=20
reverence from mortals living in its shadow, in bygone =
ages.=20
In fact, it figures centrally in the traditional =
belief=20
systems of the once animistic Dusuns in its foothills =
and the=20
Kadazans in the plains and valleys beyond, who for =
centuries=20
had regarded it as the resting place of their dead - =
their=20
version of heaven. Until today, Dusun high priests =
dutifully=20
perform the annual sacrificial rite of killing seven =
white=20
chickens, near the summit, to appease the spirits. =

It is cherished and raved about as the =
highest peak in=20
South East Asia, which towers 4,101 m (13,455 ft) =
above a=20
tangle of mountains. Not surprisingly, one visitor who =
saw the=20
spectacle in 1990, exclaimed tauntingly: " If you =
haven't seen=20
Mt. Kinabalu, you haven't seen South East Asia." The =
imposing,=20
snow-free and bald top granite massif rouses man's =
instinctive=20
yearning to get to the top the feeling of being in the =
top of=20
the world.

Park Headquarters at 1,588 m (5,000 ft) is =
well=20
organized with accommodations ranging from hostels to =
classy=20
chalets but they are so popular, booking well in =
advance is=20
advised. Daily temperature here vary from 20 degrees=20
centigrade to 13 degrees at night.

Located at the Southern boundary, Park's =
headquarters=20
is 83 km from capital city Kota Kinabalu with good, =
paved=20
roads.

Poring Hot springs is 43 km further to the =
North East=20
where natural open air sulphur health spas, a canopy =
walkway=20
through the rainforest tree crowns and perhaps a =
chance to see=20
the Rafflesia (if one is lucky) are possible, in =
addition to=20
reasonable accommodation facilities. with thanks to =
Sabah=20
Tourism Promotion Corporation)

Park Headquarters: the government owns =
several lodges.=20
Outside the park there is private accommodation too, =
which may=20
prove a useful alternative.

Pulau SelinganThe second largest island =
of the park=20
provides also accommodation and a=20
restaurant.Attractions: Green=20
turtles.

Pulau GulisanAttraction: =
Hawksbill=20
turtles and green turtles.

Best time to visit: between =
July and=20
October.

Getting there: by boat from =
Sandakan,=20
the boat ride may take in between one hour and three =
hours.=20

Turtle scientists like Dr. Jean Mortimer of =
the USA,=20
say they remain intrigued by the reptile's precise=20
navigational feats. Female Green Turtles, for =
instance, are=20
known to venture hundreds, even thousands of nautical =
miles=20
across seas and oceans but will always find their way =
back to=20
the very same beach where they first hatched, to lay =
eggs, 20=20
or more years later, when they mature. Marine turtles =
live=20
between 40 to 70 years. Mortimer says scientist are =
mystified=20
exactly how the creatures remember their ways through=20
trackless seas.

The British North Borneo Chartered Company =
rulers first=20
imposed restricted hunting of the Hawksbill Turtle =
(for their=20
shells) way back in 1927. The Malaysian government =
started the=20
country's sea turtle hatchery in Selingan Island in =
1966 and=20
in 1977, gazetted 1,740 hectares islands and sea =
embracing=20
Selingan, Bakkungan Kecil and Gulisan into a marine =
park which=20
is only 40 km North of Sandakan. A powerful speed boat =
can=20
reach it in less than an hour.

Generally speaking, turtle populations =
worldwide are=20
dwindling. But in Sabah's protected turtle islands, =
nestings=20
have recorded a steadily increasing trend since 1991,=20
according to Dr. Junaidi Payne, a scientific Officer =
with=20
Worldwide Fund for Nature, Malaysia, a sign that 30 =
years of=20
conservation efforts are working. Only two species of =
turtles,=20
namely the hawksbill and the bigger Green Turtle, nest =
at the=20
turtle islands. Sighting is guaranteed, every night, =
year=20
round and they are especially plentiful during the =
peak months=20
between July and October. Fewer land during the North =
East=20
Monsoon months between December and =
February.

The highlight is to watch a turtle laying =
eggs. The=20
process is dramatic, especially with the large Green =
Turtles=20
as they lumber ashore, select a site, dig a 12 to 18 =
inch deep=20
egg chamber with their powerful hind flippers and =
deposit=20
between 40 to 190 eggs, covering them with sand before =
returning to sea.

NESTING BEHAVIOURS:The =
complex and=20
tedious process of the turtle egg-laying can be =
divided into=20
eight stages:-1. Emerging from the sea, selecting =
a course=20
to a beach.2. Selecting a nesting site above the =
high-tide=20
mark.3. Clearing the site with sweeping motions of =
the=20
front and sometimes hind flippers to encave herself in =
the=20
body pit.4. Excavating the eggs chamber with her =
rear=20
flippers to a depth of about 12 to 18 inches.5. =
After the=20
completion of the eggs pit, there is a short rest, =
then she=20
proceeds to lay her eggs.6. When all the eggs have =
been=20
laid, the process of covering and concealing the nest =
pit, the=20
turtle returns to the sea. The whole process normally =
takes=20
about an hour to complete.

HATCHERIES:A =
hatchery has been=20
established on each of the three islands. The wire =
enclosures=20
are normally situated 50 feet away from the high water =
mark.=20
Clutches of eggs are transplanted inside the =
enclosures and=20
the distance between each hole is three feet. =
Clutches of=20
freshly laid eggs are excavated and transplanted to =
the=20
hatchery with a minimum of delay. In the hatchery the =
eggs are=20
carefully placed by hand into a pit of 30 inches deep. =
Before=20
the pit is fully covered with sand, a chicken wire =
mess=20
cylinder is placed round its mouth and a bamboo plate =
with the=20
following information is placed inside:- (i) serial =
number of=20
nest, (ii) date of collection, and (iii) number of =
eggs=20
transplanted.

INCUBATION PERIOD:After =
between 50=20
- 60 days, the young hatchlings emerge to the surface =
of the=20
pit, usually at night when the temperature is cooler =
and the=20
sand not so hot. Apart from the hazards of overheating =
and=20
dehydration, emergence at night would also allow the=20
hatchlings to avoid making a journey across the =
exposed beach=20
where they would be highly visible to the=20
predators.

Located in the South East of=20
Sabah.Attractions: very varied=20
vegetation. Wildlife: macaques, =
leaf=20
monkeys, squirrels, wild pigs, hornbills.

Jungle

Borneo is one of the last places in the world =
where you=20
can still find magnificent virgin rainforest. Its =
largest=20
virgin rainforest is in Sabah's Danum Valley, which =
has now=20
become a conservation area. It is home to many =
rare birds,=20
monkeys, deer, insects and plants. Many visitors will =
remember=20
it as a very beautiful place although it may be quite=20
difficult to see some of the larger animals. There are =
only=20
two places to stay, one for tourists and one for =
scientists.=20
As there is no attempt made to attract mass tourism =
the price=20
of the tourist resort is kept rather at the upper end =
of the=20
scale.

Kinabatangan River:This =
is Sabah's=20
longest river. Along its banks there are Proboscis =
monkeys,=20
some Orang Utans, snakes, many different types of =
birds, and a=20
few elephants can be seen on very rare occasions.=20
Accommodation can be found near Sukau, a small=20
village.

Ten species of monkeys and apes are found in =
a=20
relatively small area, rated the highest concentration =
of=20
primates in the whole of Borneo. Besides that, the =
area has a=20
plethora of animals like the Clouded Leopard, Asian =
Elephant,=20
Crocodiles, Civet Cats, Otters, and all eight species =
of=20
Hornbills found in Borneo, Egrets, magnificent =
Kingfishers,=20
Storks, Hawks and the incredible Oriental Darter which =
dives=20
into rivers and lakes to pursue fish!

But the most amazing spectacle is the =
bizarre, three=20
feet tall, pot-bellied male Proboscis Monkey found =
nowhere=20
else in the world except Borneo. No fossils have ever =
been dug=20
up outside Borneo, a point which mystifies=20
scientists.

Its trademark is its overwhelming, =
pendulous nose=20
which droops well over its mouth. Scientists are still =
debating what the outrageous nose is for. Some argue =
it may=20
act like a thermostat for regulating body =
temperatures. Others=20
theories it may be a sexual attraction to the females =
which=20
don't have such a prominent future.

Sighting of the Proboscis Monkeys is =
guaranteed,=20
because they have one fixed habit, that is, they =
always sleep=20
overnight in trees immediately above river banks. =
Knowing=20
this, tour operators arrange daily evening or early =
morning=20
river joy rides either along the Kinabatangan, Sabah's =
longest=20
river, or its tributaries, especially the =
Menangol.

The Proboscis monkeys are fun to watch =
because they are=20
very active. They crash around like skilled acrobats, =
leaping=20
through gaps and breaking through masses of leaves =
dangerously=20
and noisily but always making it.

They are also great divers. Visitors have =
seen them=20
diving 60 feet into rivers and since they are =
strangely=20
web-footed, they can swim strongly across =
rivers!

A=20
trip to Sukau also means the chance to see Sabah's =
longest=20
river, the Kinabatangan, which cuts through the=20
area.

There are about eleven beautiful ox-bow lakes =
in the=20
area which are rich in fish and prawns.

Riverside chalets are available for overnight =
accommodation.

Caves

Sabah doesn't have super huge caves like =
neighbouring=20
Sarawak but one site that has considerable historical =
depth=20
are the Gomantong Caves, South West of =
Sandakan.

For centuries, birds nest harvested here =
formed an=20
important source of supplies to China where it has =
been and=20
still is, a prized delicacy. A narrow tributary of the =
Kinabatangan River named Menangol was the only way to =
reach it=20
in the past but now it can be reached by road. =

Beaufort-Tenom=20
Railway Sabah=92s only railway system =
takes=20
visitors on a winding mountainous, jungle track =
that=20
affords spectacular views and can be lots of =
fun. A good=20
choice in any weather and an excellent one for =
the whole=20
family to enjoy.

Diving The =
ocean waters=20
around Sabah beg one to jump in with at least a =
pair of=20
goggles on if not the full scuba gear. There is =
an=20
abundance of marine life in these tropical =
waters that=20
would be a shame to miss if you are visiting. =
Many=20
hotels rent out diving equipment and offer dive =
trips to=20
the outlying islands.

The Sabah Flying Club If you like =
flying or would=20
like to know about trips in a small aircraft =
then=20
contact the Sabah Flying Club on telephone:=20
(6)088-219406, 255049

Go =
Caving These=20
are plentiful throughout the area and many of =
the=20
mountains and islands are riddled with these =
=91explorer=20
paradises=92. Only two though, Gomantong and =
Madai, are=20
administered by the Malaysian Government and are =
officially open to the general public. The rest =
are=20
protected due to the wildlife, such as the rare =
Sumatran=20
(plated) Rhino and the Orang-utan that inhabit =
the same=20
areas where the caves are =
found.

Join the =
Kinabalu Treasure=20
Hunt Usually held around the month of =
June and=20
known as the Treasure Hunt of the year. Join in =
and get=20
to know more about Sabah. The Kinabalu Kiwanis =
Treasure=20
Hunt is organised annually by The Kiwanis Club =
of Kota=20
Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu and other areas of the =
West=20
Coast of Sabah. It has attracted a large =
following of=20
hardcore treasure hunting enthusiasts. The =
motorized and=20
walking hunt has always been popular and =
memorable for=20
participants, both locals and visitors alike. =
Everyone=20
is welcome to join in on the =
excitement.

Mountain =
Biking If=20
you are in the area at the time, then join the =
Mt.=20
Kinabalu Mountain Bike Challenge held annually, =
usually=20
in March. Ride through the rainforest past =
native=20
mountain villages. This challenging event is =
held at the=20
foot of the majestic Mt. Kinabalu and follows =
the=20
legendary route taken by Sir Hugh Low - the =
first person=20
to scale the peak of Borneo. If this isn't quite =
what=20
you are after then take off on one of the many =
mountain=20
tracks or simply peddle along the roadways =
discovering=20
new challenges and areas as you go. Bikes can be =
rented=20
from various rental outlets or your hotel may =
supply=20
them.

=20

Visit the National =
Parks These=20
are plentiful throughout Sabah and each has =
it=92s own=20
unique areas of interest and all are one of the =
main=20
tourist attractions in this part of Malaysia. =
The=20
reserve system is not wholly government =
controlled and=20
many are privately owned.

Sabah=92s national parks preserve some =
of the most=20
outstanding rainforest samples of fauna and =
flora to be=20
found anywhere in the world. Many species still=20
undiscovered and many on the verge of extinction =
due to=20
vast deforestation and fires in the area. Who =
knows,=20
you, the visitor, may be the first to record or =
even see=20
some of the creatures and plant life you will =
experience=20
in one of these reserves?

A good park for the =
whole family is=20
the Tunku Abdul Rahman National =
Park=20
Snorkel in clear waters and explore coral reefs =
teeming=20
with tropical fish. White sandy beaches and warm =
water=20
of Manukan Island are perfect for family fun or =
you can=20
go hiking on the nature trails of Pulau Gaya. To =
get to=20
the islands, take a boat from Kota=20
Kinabalu.

Poring Hot=20
Springs are a welcome relief after a =
days=20
trekking or jungle adventuring and the kids will =
be=20
fascinated by the 'hot' water coming out of the=20
ground.

Sailing is one of=20
the many water sports available in the state. As =
popular=20
here as elsewhere, boats can be rented from a =
number of=20
beach side outlets or your hotel. Remember to =
request a=20
life jacket incase you get into difficulties, =
but=20
generally this is a safe pastime for the entire=20
family...after all a yacht, no matter what it's =
size=20
rarely travels at anything faster than jogging=20
pace.

Sepilok =
Orang-utan=20
Rehabilitation Centre One of only four =
centres=20
of its kind in the world these endangered apes =
are not=20
to be missed. Popular with the young and old =
alike,=20
their many antics keep visitors amused for=20
hours.